Road grading machine



p 1951 E. B. SNEAD 2,566,641

ROAD GRADING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1945 6 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 4,1951 E. SNEAD 2,566,641

ROAD GRADING MACHINE v Filed July 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edwin E).Snead Sept. 4, 1951 E. B. SNEAD 2,556,641

ROAD GRADING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 4, 1951E. B. SNEAD 2,566,641

ROAD GRADING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept.4, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT.

OFFICE ROAD GRADING MACHINE Edwin B. Snead, Austin, Tex.

Application July 19, 1945, Serial No. 605,859

9 Claims. (01. 37-108) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in a road grading machine.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatusparticularly adapted for use in building roads of the type having aconcrete or other type of pavement wherein form rails or sections areemployed.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improvedapparatus, whereby a previously cut or dug excavation may be finished tothe desired grade and contour and at the same time the forms set with aminimum of labor and a great saving in time.

An important object of the invention is to provide improved apparatusparticularly adapted for use in widening paved roads wherein a new stripof pavement is laid contiguous to an old pavement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described which includes an elongate mobile grading frameadapted to be moved along the edge of a pavement and which is suitablysupported, so as to carry a cutting blade for grading the excavation anddisposing the excavated material to the outside thereof, whereby theform sections or rails may be set up immediately behind the cuttingblade as the grading proceeds.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described including a vehicle or mobile support adapted totrack on the old pavement and carry a grading frame overhanging theexcavation, arranged with a cutting blade for bringing the excavation tothe desired grade and contour and alinement gages travelling on the edgeof the old pavement for keeping the frame in line.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of a grading framehaving mobile supporting means and a grading blade together with asupporting roller or wheel adapted to travel on the usual form rails andspaced from the blade so as to permit the placing of an advance railtherebetween when said wheel is resting upon theforward end of apreviously placed form rail.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described including a vehicle or mobile support adapted totrack on the old pavement and supporting a grading frame overhanging theexcavation, arranged to be swung to an upright position when not in use,to enable the tractor to travel along the road without interfering withother vehicles or obstructions,

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus havinga grading frame provided with portable supporting means and alinementgages, adapted to roll along the edge of the pavement, in combinationwith a propelling unit to which the grading frame is attached, whichunit is provided with wheels arranged to be adjusted at an angledivergent from the edge of the pavement, whereby the grading frame isheld in alinement with the edge of the pavement while being movedtherealong.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a grading framehaving a scraper, a mobile support at one end and a mobile support atthe opposite end thereof, having means whereby the frame and the scrapercarried thereby may be vertically adjusted to control the depth of thecut made by the scraper.

An important feature of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described wherein one end of the grading frame is carried uponthe usual form rail, thus assuring in combination with the alinementgages, the desired grading and contour as well as holding the operationto a uniform width contiguous to the edge of the pavement.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a machine constructed in accordance with theinvention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional vie taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 1, v

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6-6of Fig. 1,

Fig. '7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line I-|of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 ofFig. 4,

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the rear end of the grading frame showing theauxiliarysupporting wheel, and

Fig. 10 is a contracted plan view of another form of vehicle adapted tobe pulled by a tractor.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a form rail used in pavementconstruction.

Near each end of the vehicle frame, one of the 3 beams I4 has a pair ofspaced ears 1'5 lse'cured'to its web. Hangers I6, welded to the uppersides of the bolsters [2 at their inner ends, engage between the earsand are pivoted onbolts- I-l, whereby the frame I may be swung up anddown and also may be swung to an upright position whenit is desired totransport the machine from place to place; A-triang'ular scraper hanger'I'! has its inner end securedv to the inner ends of thebolsters, andits apex or outer end projecting beyond the beams I I. Thishanger may bemade of I-beams, and secured tothe. underside of the frame It so as tolie substantially flush with the bolsters. The hanger being triangularand being disposed between the bolsters, will give rigidity to the frameit].

For supporting the forward end of the frame it, a multiple wheelcarriage or truck 18 is provided. This carriage is equipped with aplurality of wheels 59, whichare offset longitudinally and transverselyof the frame, andv may have rubber tires or flat rims so asto:distribute the load over a comparatively broad area, and thus preyentdigging into the soft ground. The wheels are also disposed inrowstransversely of the. beams H. The carriage supports the forward end,of the frame by means of a yoke 20 suitably pivoted at its lower end inthe carriage as is best shown in -Fig. 1, andat its upper end on atransverse rocker-'2! suitably journal'e'd' under the forward ends ofthe Lbeams H. A hydraulic cylinderr22 port 24, extends upwardly throughbrackets 35 carried by a tranverse brace 36 secured between the beamsii. The bolt is adjusted up and down by means of nuts 31 mountedthereon, and bearing upon the upper bracket 35. By this means, the dollyis rocked upon the shaft 29 and the rear end of the grading frame isthus adjusted vert al The distance between the edge of. the old pavementA and the form rail 25 controls the width .of the new strip of pavement.This strip may vary in width, and thus the scraper blade 32 must be;made in sections, so that while it may pass, between the edge of thepavement A and the'for'm rail, it will cut the entire surface of f theground therebetween, in order to establish has its lower end suitablypivoted on a transverse shaft 2 I" in the carriagel8- andis providedwith a plunger 23-having its end pivoted to the rocker 2 I suitablemeans ma be provided for supplying fluid the cylinder and for operatingthe same, whereby the; forward end of the frame itmay'be vertical-lyadjusted.

For supporting the rear end of the frame 16, I provide a dol1y 2 3,adapted to traclrupon the ordinary angular form rail 25-. The'dolly'includes an elongate suppprtze pivoted nitermediate its ends to theunderside of the'beams l i, as is best shown in Figs; 5"a nd 6-. Thesupport is has a laterally projecting aXIe -Z'I welded to its undersideat 'its'rea'r and for supporting a flange roller 28, which rides uponthe form rail 25. These forms railsare in'common 'u's e, and are placedalon the outer side of the excavation so as to form the outer edge ofthe new pavement. For pivoting themember 26, 8, shaft 29 is journaled inbearingboxes 30 welded'tofthe undersides of the beams I I, and passingthrough a box 3-! Welded on top orsaiasupptrt.

A scraper blade 32*i's '-'carried on the forward side of the hanger 'II,and'it is obvious that the frame Ill must be vertically adjusted sothatthe blade will cutto the proper depth. The-forward end of the frameis adjusted by means ofthe hydraulic-cylinder22, as has been previouslydescribed. For adjusting thefre'a-r end'of {the frame, an eye bolt 33pivoted-at its lower end between ears 34 carried on the forward end ofthe supthe proper grade and contour. As is shown in Figs. 2- and 4, theblade 32 is formed in three sections B, C and D, which are of differentlengths or widths; The manner of supporting the sections i ioptional,andcwill be described only in a general; ways. The: sections B, C and Dare provided with lugs; 38 (Fig. 8). 39 have their lower endsjournaledin these lugs, asis best shown Fig. 8. Each bar isscrewthreaded and engaged in. a'bearing block 40 secured to the web ofthe hanger H, By rotating the 'bars 39 of a section, the latter may beraisedand lowered. Only one supporting means has been shown for thesection. D, however it could be formed with. a plurality of supportingmembers, and it is to be understood that the supporting members for theblade sections may be of any suitable construction. The sections areintercnangeame so as to be assembled in blades of various lengths.Although only one scraping blade has been illustrated the machine may beprovided with two'scraping blades. The two scraping blades may bearranged to correspond with the triangular form. of hanger I! so thatthe machine'will be capable of scraping ineith'er of two directions.

'Itis pointed out that the cutting edges of the blade 32 may be adjustedto give various contours to the cut, but it is not considered necessaryto illustrate suchcontours. It will be observed that the outersection Dis comparatively narrow. Ordinarily, this section will not be used.Itsometimesoccursthat' the contractor has form rails 25' which arehigher than the thickness of the new strip of pavement, which he iscalled uponjto lay. As an illustration, his form rails may be .9incheshigh, while his pavement is only to be 8 inches in thickness. Insuch cases-the section'D is adjustedlower than the other sections, so asto dig a trench in which the form rails 25 may be laid so that theirupper surfaces Twill beat theproper-elevati'on. With the sectionD'omitted, the sections B and C 'cut the entiregrade betwejemthe edge ofthepavement A'and the'form rail 25. g

'An important feature of the invention is the means'for keeping "thegrading frame proper alin 'eme'nt, and this is accomplished by-alinementgages ll-{whichare-best shown in Figs; l, 3 and '7, and which projectsforwardly and rearwardly from the bolsters [2. Each; gage 'is' form'edofan elongate head fli'carrying' rollers'43 at each end, which roll on theedgeof the pavement A. The head is suspended b'y -an 'uprightscrew-threaded bar 'E-suitably secured to the medial portion 0f theheadand carried ina "clamp fastened on the bolster l2. Nuts 46, mounted on abar 44; engage the' upper and-lower sides 0f :the

Upright bars gage head may be vertically adjusted to properly engage theedge of the pavement A. In order to take the load off of the pivot boltsH, by which the frame In is hinged to the vehicle frame l3, a casterroller 41 is carried by a bracket 48 secured at the inner, front end ofthe hanger I! and rolls on the pavement A.

At its forward and rearward ends, the vehicle [3 is provided withchassis members 49, which are indicated generally and which are suitablysecured to the beams 14. Each chassis is suitably supported by an axle50, and carries a power plant 51 of the front wheel drive type, so thatthe wheels 52 may be driven as well as steered. As is best shown in Fig.2, each power unit is provided with a steering wheel 53, and the wheelsare provided with rubber tires for rolling on the pavement A. The wheelsare provided with steering linkage 54, as is shown in Fig. l, and eachlinkage is provided with a suitable lock 55 connected with the chassis49, whereby said linkage may be locked against movement.

It will be observed that the wheels 52 are shown in Fig. 1 at an angleslightly divergent from the longitudinal edge of the pavement A, andthis angle has been slightly exaggerated in the drawings for thepurposes of illustration. After the wheels are adjusted to this angle,the locks 55 are operated to hold said wheels in the adjusted position.The purpose of this is to create a side draft to the forward movement ofthe machine whereby the alinement gages 41 are held in engagement withthe edge of the pavement A for the purpose of keeping the machine inalinement. Since the surface of the excavation which is being graded isuneven, there will be areas where the blade 32 will cut deeper than atother areas, thus involving heavy cuts and light cuts. The angling ofthe vehicle wheels 52 is highly important where the cut is light.

For raising and lowering the grading frame [0, a tripod 56 is mounted atthe center of the vehicle frame 13 on the beams l4, and has a sheave 51journaled at its top. A small drum 5B is mounted on the inner I-beam I4,at the base of the tripod, and has a cable 59 wound thereon, whichpasses upwardly and over the sheave 51. This cable is provided with ahook 50 at its outer end, which engages in an eye 5| (Fi 3) at the outerend of the hanger II. The drum is provided with a winding handle andratchet 52. By revolving the drum to wind the cable, the frame I0 may bewung to an upright position. Since the bolts [1 are inwardly of thewheels 52 and the top of the tripod is offset laterally from said bolts,it is obvious that when the frame I0 is in its upright position, only aportion will overhang said wheels, thus permitting the machine to passover bridges and avoid road obstructions.

While the invention is primarily for use in widening a pavement whichhas been previously laid, it is not to be so limited, and may be usedwherever found practical. While the apparatus has been illustrated witha single grader frame extending from one side of the vehicle, it wouldbe feasible to duplicate the structure on the other side of the vehicle.Since the caster roller 41, at the inner end of the bolster l2, rolls onthe pavement A and supports th inner side of the frame If], it would bepossible to detach the frame ill from the vehicle and pull it with atractor or other self-propelled unit traveling on the pavement. Eitherthe vehicle or the caster rollers constitute a mobile support for thegrader frame.

In using the apparatus herein set forth-it is first necessary to providean excavation contiguous to the edge of the pavement before theapparatus can be used. This excavation may be dug or cut in any suitablemanner and with any suitable machine. In making the excavation, thegrade is left about 1 inch higher than the grade at which the excavationis to be finished. After the excavation has been dug, it is customary toset upright form sections or rails, such as the form rail 25, which areplaced at the outer line of the strip of any pavement which is to belaid.

The apparatus is driven along the pavement A and stopped at the pointwhere the grader frame H! is to be used. One form rail 25 is set up andthe grader frame positioned so that the flanged roller 23 rests upon theforward or advance end of the rail, as is indicated in full lines inFig. 1. If the grader frame is carried by a vehicle, as shown in Figs. 1to 4, inclusive, it is lowered so that the wheel 28 will rest upon therail 25. It will, of course, be necessary to position the vehicle sothat the roller 28 will rest on top of the rail 25 and the frame It willextend substantially parallel to the edge of the pavement A.

After the roller has been lowered onto the rail 25, the rear end of theframe is adjusted by manipulating the eye-bolt 33 and the hydrauliccylinder 22 is operated to adjust the carriage I8. The purpose in makingthese adjustments is to dispose the lower edge of the cutter blade atthe desired inclination and depth. It is obvious that the provision ofvertical adjustments at the front and rear ends of the grader frame,together with the adjustment of the blade 32, enables the operator toset the cutting edge of the blade 32 to the exact grade and contour atWhichhe desires to finish the excavation. After the frame has. beenpositioned, the alinement gages 4| are adjusted so that the rollers 43will bear against the vertical edge of the pavement A and keep the:

grader frame in line.

In beginning the operation, the next form section or rail 25 is placedin position as indicated in dotted lines at E in Fig. 1. It will beobserved. that sufficient length is given to the frame In to permit therail E to be set between the apex of the cutters 32 and the forward endof the previously set rail. To aid in alining the rails, cleats 63 arespaced along the outer beam II and upright gage bars 54 have their upperends inserted in these cleats with their lower ends terminating abovethe grade. The relative lateral spacing between the gage bars and theroller 28 is such that when the added rail E is placed against the bars64, it will be positioned in proper alinement with the previously setrail. This arrangement avoids the necessity of measuring and manuallyalining the rails. It would, of course, be possible to first adjust thealinement gages 4i and then move the vehicle along the road. so thatwhen the rollers 43 engage the edge of the pavement, the wheel 28 wouldbe in position to engage on top of the rail 25. In actual practice, itwould be preferable to first adjust the frame It, and then complete theadjustment by setting the cutter blade. After the adjustments have beenmade, and the frame I0 is in position, the vehicle wheels 52 are swungto the proper angle and the locks 55 then applied.

The vehicle is now driven forwardly, whereby the ground is cut to theproper grade and contour. It will be noted that the scraper 32 projectsbeyond the beams ll so as to extend the "amiss-any ass sewers-ysufiqc'ieiitly to receive and'suppo'rt'the next forrhrailatthe properelevation; also, the angular disposition of the cutting blade 32 willmove the dirt toward the outer side of the cut and thus dispose itoutwardly thereof, which leaves the out clean and facilitatesthe placingof. the form rails. When the apparatus has progressed to the point wherethe roller 28 reaches the forward or advance end of the rail 25, anadditional ran is placed in position and the operation continued. Theapparatus may be 'effici'en tly operated with a driver and threelaborers, which is one thir'd the numher of men usually employed. It hasbeen found inractual operation 'that'the work may be done in" one-halfthe time usually required by the methods now in commences.

In casethe apparatus should move so far forwardly as to carry therollers-2s offthe front end of the rail 25, an auxiliary caster wheel 65is fastened to the rear end of the inner beam 1 I, so as .to hang justabove the grade and act to support the rear end of the frame, as will beobvious.

It is pointed out that the frames l and [3, being of considerablelength, and comparatively narrow, will absorb twists and ordinaryvertical displacements of individual wheels without seriously affectingthe cut of the scraper blade. The apparatus permits the finishing of anexcavation to an exact grade and contour, with a minimum amount of laborand with a desirable accuracy.

While the apparatus has been illustrated with motor units 54 mounted onthe vehicle frame 14 and the wheels equipped with drives from theengines, it may be desirable to pull the frame by a tractor or otherpropelling means. In Fig. 10, I have illustrated a form suitable forthis purpose and only the front and rear portions of the frame areshown. Instead of the engine drives,

the axles 59 and wheels 52 would be equipped with i ordinary steeringlinkage 1D and draw bars H are attached to the ends of the frame. Theforward draw bar may be suitably connected to a tractor so that theframe may be pulled along the pavement and the wheels secured by thelocks 55, if desired. It would also be possible to equip the frame witha power driving unit at one end and a draw bar at the other end so thatthe apparatus may be used in either manner.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials; as we'll as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: g

1. A road apparatus including, a grading frame, a portable carriageadjust'ably supporting one end cfthe frame, a dolly" adjustablysupporting the opposite end of the frame, alinernent gages carried bythe frame for engaging the edge of a pavement, a scraper blade suspendedfrom the medial portion of the frame, a vehicle adapted to' travel alonga finished pavement and to which the frame is attached, andmeansforlocking the wheels of the vehicle at an angle to its directionof travel to cause the' alinement' gages to maintain the frame'in' line.7 V

2. A road grading machine including, an elongate grading frame adap'tedto'trave'llongitudi nally outboard of a finished pavement and having aninner side jand'anouter'side spaced rolling guides adthe" inner sideoftheflfrarife disposed Horizontally for engaging the edge" or a have:

jinent, a rigid bled between the rolling g p theihan g'i"trah'sver's'elyfo'f the frame, a wheeled support for thelfiaiiie inadvance of thefbla'de hanger-ya. rolling support rear of the hangeradapted to roll on a forin fail, the outer end of the-blade being spaceda greater distance from the. fear support than the length of a form railsec on, and aromas supboft connected to the in rjside or the frameadapted to roll on a pavement.

g 3. A road grading machine as set forth in claim 2 with a dolly 'altjthrear end of the frame.

'4. A road grading machine including, a frame ""risin'g'. an elongateouter inemb'eraloiig its outer side and medial epawdtransverse membersdire'tedinwaidly from the Outer member, a t angular blade hanger betweenthe" trail members having its] outer op'en porti'on rigidly sec-dreamthe outer frame member and its ijri ner ends rigidly carried by theinner ends of the transverse members, a blade suspended by the hanger, aportable support attached to the inner ends of the transverse members atthe inner side of the frame, a wheeled suppbrt' at; the front end of theouter frame member movable in the direc tion of the" longitudinal 2331sof the outer frame member, and a rear wheeled support at the rear end ofsaid outer frame member.-

5. A' road grading machine asset forth in claim 4, With Horizontalrolling edge gages Carried at the inner ends of the transverse framememb" 6. A road; grading machine as set forth cl m 4', with a dolly atthe rear endof the outer frame fifemberl c p ,s

'7. A; road grading machine including, a frame comprising an elongateaural-immeaalong its outer-side and medial spaced transverse abr's'directed inwardly from the outer m r, a triangular blade hanger betweenthe tra erse membershavi-ng its outer open portieir rigidly secured:tof't-lfeouter frame member and its inner en'ds 'ri-gidly carried byltheinner ends of the transverse members, a} biaeesespeneed by the hanger; aportable supportattached to the inner ends of the transverse members atthe inner side of the'frame; aniultipl'e wheel truck suppertin'g thefront end of the outer frame member ineva-ble in the direction of 'the'lefigitudin'al axis or the outer frame" member; and rear wheeled suppersat the rearendof said outer frame mere ber. h

8 A road grading machine including, a frame compris ng an elongate cut rmember along its outer side medialspaced transverse mem: hers-directedinwardly from theouter hiliiol; a"trl'a'-i'iglilar blade Hanger betweenthe ti 21'svi 's'ememlcers having its-outer open-portion fig 13 securedtd' trimmer-frame member and its in ner ends rigidly carriedby the innerends of the transverse members; a blade suspended by the usages; thetransverse fra'me-niembers having meane t their inner ends forhingi-ngthe frame to the side of aportablesupport,- brackets car'-ri'e'd by' the transverse members adjacent the in ner endsthereof,-horizontal rolling edge gages car ierrby said" brackets} andwheeled supports at the front and rear" ends of the outer memberOfth'e'frame; V

9; Aroad'tg'rading machine including, a frame comprisingan' elongateouter member along its outer side andrhedi'al spaced transverse membersdirected inwardly from the outer member, a tri-, "'g l'arf blade; hangerbetween i the transverse masters: having" its outer open sermon rigidlysecured to the outer frame member and its inner ends rigidly carried bythe inner ends of the transverse members, a blade suspended by thehanger, a portable support attached to the inner ends of the transversemembers at the inner side of the frame, a truck supporting the front endof the outer frame member having rigidly alined transverse rows ofwheels, and a wheeled support supporting the rear end of the outer framemember.

EDWIN B. SNEAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the, file ofthis patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rutherford Dec. 9, 1890 KeetleJan. 2, 1917 Hug Nov. 6, 1923 Mautz Aug. 3, 1926 Wilson Apr. 23, 1929Sheppard May 7, 1929 Moritz Apr. 25, 1933 Mowbray May 23, 1933 LeydeckerOct. 30, 1934 Pederson Aug. 13, 1935 Cluster Dec. 13, 1938 Wilson et a1Apr. 2, 1940 Wiese Apr. 29, 1941 Lowdermilk Feb. 23, 1943

